The responsibility of scientists, a European view.

Why should we researchers and university teachers carry particular societal responsibility?—The answer follows from the function of universities within our society, to educate future generations and to act as “truth-seeking” centers. Given the increasing public costs of universities, there has also been a rise in the expectations in their beneficial output for society. The current global political and economic situation places even more responsibility on the universities to be far-sighted. And why is there a relevant European context?—Fundamentally, science has no national or continental borders. On the contrary, science helps to bridge gaps that originate from political or economic developments or from ethnical traditions. Scientific results have truly universal validity. Nevertheless, scientists are citizens who are rooted in a national, continental, and cultural context. Science is supported by national authorities, and is expected to foster regional prosperity and to help solve national problems. Perhaps most importantly, an active science community is indispensable in any flourishing society that desires to remain competitive on an international scale. Whenever economic or political unbalance starts to develop between nations or continents, national or continental concerns may become relevant also in science. In such a situation, science is expected to contribute its share to strengthening the national impact on a global scale to re-establish balanced competitiveness. Today, where hegemony of the USA on the political, but also economic platform, is becoming more and more of a serious challenge, the positioning of European science and technology needs to be reconsidered. In this respect, it seems appropriate to me for European scientists to develop a specifically European opinion, keeping in mind that the major obligation of science is to remain far-sighted in all respects, also in the geographical ones, and to strengthen international and intercontinental ties rather than questioning them.